I've Been Interviewed! Check It Out!

Check out my interview today at Sarita Leone's blogspot!
http://www.saritaleonepages.blogspot.com/

Leave a comment, and you just might win a PDF of my latest book, MY STRENGTH, MY POWER, MY LOVE from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid!

Where Do You Buy Your Ebooks? (It matters to the authors.)

Where do you buy your ebooks? Because it matters to the authors.

The best place to buy them is at the publisher's website. Why? Because authors get paid by the book, and they make their best percentage at the publisher's website.

Some publishers are even offering immediate discounts on new releases. For instance, Whiskey Creek Press has each new release at 10% off the first three months.

I know a lot of people wait until the book gets to Fictionwise and ARe because they have an account already established with them. That's okay. Authors get paid the least from those bookstores, but they often sell the most books there.

Either way, buying a book is the best way to tell an author, "Keep writing!" To which we reply, "Keep buying and we will!"

Ode To The Irritated Friend

(With apologies to Dr. Seuss)

I will not go to stores with you.
I will not go to mall with you.
I will not shop for shoes and such.
I do not like to shop that much.

Please let me edit on this book,
This book that’s just like tenterhooks.
My time is short - oh, won’t you see?
Please let me edit! Let me be!

Please do not call me ‘cause you’re bored.
Do not ring bells at my front door.
I cannot drop what I have now.
I will not drop it, not no-how!

I want to write! I want to write!
Why can’t you see I want to write?
I work all week, my time is short.
I write my books all through the dark.

You work all week, then off you go.
You’re off to play and see the shows.
But I would rather stay right here
And write and write and write, my dear.

So don’t be mad and don’t say things,
Those hurtful things that bite and sting.
My time is short, my hours few.
Let me do what I want to do.

Just be a friend and let me write,
And if you do, one day you might
Find right there in the book, you’ll see
A Thank You page to you from me.

Dear Linda: If any one of your books could be made into a movie...

One of the most often asked questions I get is "Which one of your books would you like to see made into a movie?"

Hands down, THE BATTLE LORD'S LADY.

Publish America has the rights to this book until 2013. After the contract is up, I want to re-submit this book and its two completed sequels to another publisher. I'm also in the middle of a fourth book (I'm calling all of these books my Battle Lord Saga), with a fifth one already outlined.

In addition, I have a trilogy planned around each of Atty and Yulen's three children, which I'm calling The D'Jacques Dynasty Trilogy.

Another frequently asked question is, "Who is your favorite heroine of all that you've written?" (Often accompanied by, "If you could be any heroine in one of your books, who would it be?")

Again, hands down, it would be Atty/Atrilan from THE BATTLE LORD'S LADY.

Got your curiosity going? Hope so. :D

Re-Uses for Old Books, Take 5

Do you live near an used book store? Take your old paperbacks and hardbacks there. Trade them for in-store credit, or with Half Price Books, take the money and run.

I've done book signings at used book stores, and I love it! Most used book stores are locally owned and operated. The atmosphere is warm and comfortable, and often the hostess sets out goodies and drinks for the authors and customers. Better yet, the owners will often take the authors' books and sell them on commission.

(Note! Let's say you have a few paperbacks with not-so-pretty covers. Go ahead and give them to the UBS. They can still offer them in their Buy-1-Get-Something-From-This-Bin-Free box!)

I'm giving a shout-out to Pam over at Boomerang Books in League City, Texas, and Jennifer at Books Ink in Portland, Texas.

You girls ROCK! :D

In Case You Didn't Know, My Books Are Available for Kindle, Too!

Or should that be "Kindle 2"? ;)

Either way, I had an email asking me if my books were available on Amazon for the Kindle. Yes, they are! Not all titles, at the moment, but they will eventually be listed over there for that format.

Thanks for asking!

Pre-Judging a Book By Its Genre - DON'T!

I've been reading a lot of twits on Twitter recently, and holding my tongue. I've also been reading other blogs regarding books of a particular genre, and biting my lips to keep from responding.

Well, this is my blog, and the gloves are off. That being done, all I have to say is:

Do Not Judge A Book By Its Genre!

I write sci-fi romances. I've lost count of the number of people, especially reviewers, who have written to tell me that they 1) normally don't like sci-fi romances, especially erotic ones, or 2) will read them, but have pretty much figured they were all the same. But then they read something of mine, and have all their preconceived notions blown out of the water.

Plain and simple, I write the stories I want to read. I have probably read three or four sci-fi romances in my lifetime. Yeah, I know that what I write is nothing like them, but I never wanted to emulate or imitate them. Take the sex out of my books, and you'll still have a loving romance, characters you'll care about, suspense, action, angst, and an HEA.

So if you are not a fan of sci-fi romances, still give one of mine a chance. Just one, that's all I ask. Don't put on blinders and lump every writer's books into the same pile. The GENRE may be the same, but our voices are totally different. And - who know? - you may end up adding sci-fi romances to your TBB/TBR pile. :)

Would you like a free bookplate?

Just ask me! They're free for the asking! And if you want, I can also autograph it for you! Just send me an email with your name and snail mail address to Linda@LindaMooney.com

No, I will not be at RT this year.

No. In response to a lot of people on the loops asking me the same question, I will not be attending RT this year. Or the Lori Foster get-together. Or RWA.

It's not so much the $$ issue. It's the fact that I can't take off from my teaching job for more than 3 days. If I do, I'd better have a doctor's excuse or else be docked FULL PAY for those days I was gone.

If RT comes back to Houston, or maybe Dallas/Ft. Worth, I could drive it, and then I'd get to see everyone.

So, for those of you going, safe trip! Have fun! And don't forget to blog your experiences after you get home.

My Books Are Now At The Sony Ebookstore!

Whoohoo! My books can now be bought at the Sony eBookstore! So if you have a Sony e-Reader, head over to http://ebookstore.sony.com/ and see what they have. Not all titles are up yet, but soon will be as they're currently being formatted and uploaded. :D

Re-Uses for Old Books, Take 4

New Life for Old Books (and old Books-On-Tape)

Donate them to your local library. Even those books you don't think anyone would want... someone might surprise you.

Libraries can use every extra penny they can get!

Happy First Day of Spring!

Dear Linda: Regarding HeartFast and HeartCrystal

I'm getting emails coming in from reviewers and readers asking about a third sequel, or at least a book 3, to the HeartFast/HeartCrystal series.

Insofar, here are some of the "loose threads" people are wanting to see "tied up" (no real spoilers below):

* The son.

* The daughter's powers.

* How they raise two kids with out-of-control powers.

* The pirates. How they stop them.

* Commander's relationship with Devorah. How that comes about. (This one was mentioned several times.)

* The kid who looked through the window in the first novel and swore he would become a Guardian.

* Destiny and her predictions. What's her story? Her background with the large silver eyes.

* And what about the details of Star's background? What lead to her leaving home? When did she know she had powers?

* And more background on the Guardians. How did they get started?


Dang it! Now you've got me to thinking! LOL! Don't be surprised if you see something pop up soon in my WIP section on my website, or on this blog.

(Thanks to Jo for the nudge. Or is that a thwack with a rolled-up newspaper? LOL!)

Depression Doesn't Begin To Explain It :~(

For the past year and a half I have been anxiously awaiting retirement. This year is my 31st year teaching. I am 54.

According to my calculations, I would be able to retire at the end of the 2009-2010 school year, and be able to devote full time to my writing. My house would be paid off by then, and my reduced retirement check would pretty much equal what I'm taking home now minus my house payment.

I received the news today that the Texas legislature has changed the rules. I must wait another 4.5 years before I can retire with full benefits.

Oh, yes, I can retire next year with partial benefits, but after 30 plus years teaching, I'm not going to settle for less than 40%.

FOUR AND A HALF MORE YEARS.

I'm not just upset. I'm devastated.

Addendum to all this "Siffy-ness"

Point made over at EREC.

I Do Not Write "Siffy" Romances - A Rant in Progress.

As you've probably heard by now, the Sci-Fi Channel has announced they're changing their name to Syfy because people in their demographics (18-34) have said that THIS is the way to spell it, not as "sci-fi".

Baloney.

I've been reading "sci-fi" since the 60s. The abbreviation is spelled SCI-FI, as in SCIence FIction, not with Ys.

D'oh!

The results look like "siffy". Furthermore, I do not write "Syfy and Fantasy" romances!

Asimov must be rolling over in his grave.

There may be more rant coming. Stay tuned. :(

I Blogged Over at The Countess Today!

From Taboo to Typical:
How e-publishing has allowed writers to push the proverbial envelope.

Check out what I have to say over at The Countess's blog today!
Link is here.

(Warning: Parental Advisory for her blog.)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

ERIN GO BRAGH!

Me granmither was a Maloney.
I married a Mooney.
Can't get much more Irish than that! :D

Mooney Does Movies: "Let the Right One In"

I've been reading in my favorite horror magazines about this movie. About how it takes the usual vampire tale into a whole new realm. Well, to be honest, I'm very leery about being told how "unique" and "different" something is, because about half the time I disagree.

Lemme tell you - this movie takes vampires into a whole new realm!

Based on the book by John Ajvide Lindqvist (and screenwritten by the author), LTROI takes place in Sweden. The DVD released in the U.S. is dubbed, although the deleted scenes are in Swedish with English subtitles.

The story is a basic, sweet little love story with a horrific twist. Twelve year old Oskar meets twelve-ish year old Eli when she and her "poppa" move into the apartment next door. The attraction is instantaneous, but Oskar is hesitant in only a boy-with-a-crush can be. He has every right to be, especially after he discovers that Eli is a vampire, cursed to be forever locked in a preadolescent body.

In addition, Oskar is the target of a group of boys who take special delight in tormenting and bullying him. Oskar bears their brutality as best he can, until Eli takes notice and tries to convince him to fight back.

The movie sets a very pervasive tone with the harshness of the winter weather. Seeing Oskar bundled up, nose running from the intense cold, and seeing Eli sitting in her sleeveless shirt and barefoot on top of a mountain of snow, makes their differences all the more striking.

Of the whole movie, two scenes stand out in my mind (no spoilers here) - when Eli tells Oskar she has to be invited into his house (since, according to legend, vampires cannot cross thresholds of homes inhabited by the living unless asked), and the final scene between the bullies and Oskar at the swimming pool. What happens in those two instances will forever remain with me.

Rating: a full moon

I will be getting this movie for my Keepers Collection.

MSMPML is OUT! And We Have a Winnah! :D

My Strength, My Power, My Love is OUT! You can get it HERE (direct link).

The winner of a PDF of my newest erotic sci-fi romance is LeeAnne Foreman!

And my loop member who won a copy is Trinka Martin!

Congratulations!

New! MY STRENGTH, MY POWER, MY LOVE

Now Available!

My Strength, My Power, My Love
An Erotic Sci-Fi Romance Novel
by Linda Mooney

From Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
Genre: Science Fiction Erotic Romance
Rating: Sensuous
Length: 73.3K words (novel)

Once in every one million births, a child is born on Bellac with the Synergistic gene. These children are taken from their parents, raised, trained, and prepared for the day when they will find their Synergistic other half. For when that happens, an entirely new power is created—a power ready to protect and defend their home world.

Grey Dansis is a Synergian. She has reached that point in time when she must go forth to meet the others like herself and hopefully find the male who will become her life-long partner. There are nearly a dozen to choose from—strong, prime adult males who are ready to join the war as soon as they are united with their female halves.

Unfortunately Grey has secretly harbored a longing for Rowe Maine. But the man is five years her senior and considered long past acceptance. He is an Unmatched Synergian who has lost his chance to become one of the rare few empowered union mates. Now the man is a trainer and teacher at their special school.

It won’t be long, however, before their world is again attacked by marauders. The creatures bent on domination are a species the Synergians have never encountered before. And this time the creatures’ goal isn’t just to conquer Bellac, but to totally wipe the planet’s current population and its army of Synergians out of existence.

Grey has no idea that Rowe, the man she has long been in love with, is her fated other half. Or that the power that could come from their union would be the only force strong enough to save Bellac from complete annihilation.

They may never know because the law won't even let them touch.

I'm now the proud parent of an EBOOKWISE! :)

Happy Days are Here Again!

I'm now the proud parent of an EBOOKWISE!

Back when Sony first introduced its e-reader, I was delighted to get one for Christmas. From then on my delight went downhill. No matter what Sony promised, the font was too small for me to read. Even boosted to LARGE, I had a difficult time getting these 50+-year-old eyes to see the e-ink. Inasmuch, I pretty well let the Sony collect dust, and continued to read my e-books on the computer. (Which is damn hard, considering I just spent how many hours in front of the monitor, writing?)

Anyhoo, BIG THANK YOUS go out to Betty Hanawa for showing me her EBOOKWISE while we were doing a Texas ARF book signing at BOOKS INK in Portland last February. I took her sales pitch with a grain of salt, then when I got home, scoped it out online.

EBOOKWISE is from the people who own Fictionwise. I got the Top of the Line Model for $135.95 (+ shipping, natch). $135.95! And this is what this lovely little darlin' includes:

* The whole thing is just 7 in. x 5 in. The screen is a bit larger than 3x4.5 in. Think paperback book size. And fits nicely in a purse or large pocket.
* It's backlit!
* It has an "automatic shut-off" feature.
* It needs just 2 hrs. to fully charge (battery is included, not extra).
* And runs for 11 hrs. before needing to recharge.
* AND THE FONT IS READABLE! Think 12 pt. Times font.
* Plus it'll hold approx. 80 ebooks. (64 MB internal memory) Yes, there's a slot for a memory chip if you want to get one for it.
* It weighs 2 lbs.
* It comes with its own leatherette carrying case (no extra charge).

It can do more, but I just got this baby in the mail Friday, and I'm still checking the manual. If you want to know more, check it out here.

Free Book by Kimber Chin! But Hurry!

I got this email from Kimber Chin, and I'm happy to pass it along. :)

"If you're looking for another book to read, my publisher Champagne Books, has teamed up with eBookguru.org to offer Invisible, my latest contemporary romance, for FREE!

Just for this week only (closing March 14th)and just in eFormat as we're celebrating Read An eBook Week.

To test drive this publisher,Sign up at http://www.ebookguru.org/index.php/2009/03/ebook-week-is-here-free-books/

If the link breaks,you can also go to the first post on http://businessromance.com/

Happy Reading!"

CASTLE'S KEEP is Now Available at ARe!

Castle's Keep is now available at All Romance e-books!

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-castleskeep-15422-177.html

He was a man angry at an accident which left him forever incapacitated. She was a woman disfigured and empty. Add one immense painting imbued with a magical ability, and the resulting enchantment changed more than just their lives. It changed their world. But for how long?

I'm Giving Away My Newest Release!

MY STRENGTH, MY POWER, MY LOVE releases on Sunday, March 15th, with Whiskey Creek Press Torrid. This is a full-length erotic sci-fi romance novel that is a stand-alone. And I will be giving away a copy on release day!

Just send me an email at Linda@LindaMooney.com and put MY STRENGTH in the subject line. I will announce the winner here and on my website on the 15th!

Thanks, and Good Luck! :D

Re-Uses for Old Books, Take 3

Turn them into an avant guarde stool or chair.

More info can be found here:

http://www.bookofjoe.com/2008/02/book-or-magazin.html

New Poll for March

What got you to buy an e-book for the first time?

Please check out my new poll and let me know what led you to buy your first e-book.

Thanks!

Poll Results for February

What prompts you most to buy a book?

Author Brand Name—33%
Blurb/Excerpt—69%
Cover Art—22%
Genre—30%
Video Trailer—1%
Word of Mouth—9%
Price/Length—11%

Speaking of "Being Green"...

<-- See this little tree-like emblem? Recognize it? If you buy from Fictionwise, you might have if you've ever clicked on the NEW EBOOKS link. It's the logo for the MSReader. It's "green"! How cute is that? :D

Check. Me. Out! I'm Blogging at Erotic Horizon!

Check Me Out! I'm the guest blogger today at Erotic Horizons!
http://erotichorizon.blogspot.com/2009/03/linda-mooney-linda-mooneys-other-worlds.html

It's READ AN EBOOK WEEK!

Let's all celebrate! :D

http://www.examiner.com/x-3098-Houston-Romance-Novels-Examiner~y2009m3d8-Read-an-Ebook-Week-starts-today

OMGosh! This is a HOOT!

You have got to check out this trailer (below) to PLANET 51.
I just watched it on Hulu, and I can't wait! :D

THE GIFTED is Now At Fictionwise and 15% Off!

THE GIFTED
An Erotic Sci-Fi Romance
(ebook) ISBN# 978-1-60394-104-4
Word Count: 116K

After being banished from her own world because of the deep fear of the scope of her powers by the Judiciary, an anomaly shoots Sah'Reena toward Earth and the one man in the universe meant to be her soul mate -- Dr. Robin Dickenson.

No one, least of all Dr. Robin Dickenson, expected what they discovered when they opened the alien 'craft' captured by the Liberty while on a routine space mission. But from the moment he first sees the star girl, Sah'Reena, Robin is captivated.

Near death, expecting never to see anything again beyond the endless void of space, Sah'Reena isn't certain, at first, that her mind isn't playing tricks on her, but the handsome face of the stranger she sees gives her hope of life when she'd thought all hope was gone.

Buy it here at Fictionwise.

One More Time... Please Vote! :D

Your story "­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­HeartCrystal" was reviewed by us this week and is up for Best Book honor this weekend (voting runs from Saturday, 3/7, through Sunday, 3/8). We thought you might like to know. You can find the information here on Saturday:

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/WC/recentrev.htm

Re-Uses for Old Books, Take 2

The other day I was at a friend's house, sharing supper with her and her family. She had a large bread tray coming out of the oven, and no place to set the tray because her hot pads were already in use.

I grabbed a couple of hardbacks from the living room coffee table, flipped the books upside-down to protect the front covers, and laid them side-by-side on the dinette.

Bingo! Instant hot pads! (Just be sure the books are of equal thickness.)

Dear Linda: What is MacWombat Press?

Dear Linda,

I was Googling your name, and I found reference to a Linda Mooney at a MacWombat Press. I've never heard of this publisher. Is that you? What do you have with them?

Yes, it's me. Starting around 1989, I got deeply involved with a television show called Beauty and the Beast, and it got me started writing fanfiction. I basically honed my craft writing fanfic. I also wrote Zorro, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Quantum Leap, Ladyhawke, X-Files, Phantom of the Opera, and Lois and Clark fanfic.

The site is still active. The books are still being sold, although I haven't written anything new for several years.

If you're curious, the URL is http://www.macwombat.com/

My New Bathroom!

All right. One more time, so you can see the progression. :)

BEFORE

DURING

AND NOW, TA-DA! MY NEW BATHROOM!


The handle on the right (mid-way up) is to the door of the linen closet. What you can't see is the NEAT faucet with its porcelain handles and the telephone-type hand shower. ;)

And that tub is DEEEEEEP!

I'm in hog heaven!

From My Kindergarten Dictionary

obo

Re-Uses for Old Books

Use them as drink mats!

If it's a paperback book you don't care to read again, but really like the cover, strip the cover from the book and get it laminated (teacher supply stores always have a laminator on site.)

Voila! And they stack/store so neatly, too!

5 Cherries for HEARTCRYSTAL!

In this fantastic follow-up to HeartFast, Ms. Mooney once again takes us into the fascinating world of Star Light, Master Hunter and the Guardians.

First, I want to say that this is a wonderful sequel or companion story for HeartFast, and while HeartCrystal can stand alone, it does reveal and refer to events that happened in HeartFast as it provides background for the characters. So to gain a better understanding of the characters, what they have experienced, and the world that they live in it might be best to read HeartFast first unless you don’t mind a few spoilers.

As a whole, I loved HeartCrystal and its touching story. We once again meet Star and Hunter and get to see how they are adjusting to married life while honeymooning and dealing with their job. It is a big adjustment to both of them as they are both still dealing with some traumatic events and what it means to be married and do their job as Guardians. I really enjoyed watching as they deal with all the changes that married life has brought them.

Star in particular has a lot to adjust to as she isn’t used to having a family. It was interesting to see how she deals with Hunter’s family as they and Hunter try to make her feel at ease and loved. Her hesitancy is obvious as the story progresses and you can’t help but feel for her. Hunter still worries about Star and it is touching to see his concern and love for her. The two share an obvious bond and passion that is very touching.

As for the title for the story, it comes from a fascinating concept or legend involving crystals that act as a sort of “perfect mate” indicator when the right couple finds the right crystal. Star and Hunter’s crystal is particularly special and plays a big part in this touching story. I really enjoyed this whole aspect of the story and how it ties into a major plotline, a plotline that came as a big surprise to me.

Once again, the author definitely knows how to blindside the reader, as well as pull at the heartstrings, as events occur that I never saw coming. I don’t wish to spoil anything, but the events really touched me and I definitely shed a tear or two. This was an emotional read filled with breathtaking events and adventures that captivated me. Each page seemed to bring something new and I loved how characters and events were interconnected and everything made sense. The author did a wonderful job of weaving everything together without confusing the reader.

I also really enjoyed the secondary characters of the story…mainly Star and Hunter’s fellow Guardians. They were all unique and fascinating and I could sense some potential for some more books as I’d love to see more of them.

Ms. Mooney is a talented author and I look forward to reading more of her work. So if you enjoy touching futuristic romances with wonderful characters and exciting plots, then you might want to read this one.

Rating: 5 Cherries
Reviewed by: Lilac
Whipped Cream Erotic Reviews
http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/2009/03/heartcrystal-by-linda-mooney.html?zx=3da05f59900f4b63

Go Green! Read an eBook!

March is being celebrated at All Romance eBooks (ARe) as "Save a tree. Preserve the planet. Go Green and read an ebook." month.

Won't you do your part? :D

"This is Paul Harvey... Good Day!"

I grew up listening to this man's noontime news casts.
My favorite were The Rest of the Story features.

You will be sorely missed!